Benefits of ITIL Foundations: Is It Worth It?

Information Technology (IT) is at the core of every business in today’s world. ITIL (Information Technology Infrastructure Library) is an integrated set of processes and best practices for delivering IT services to customers and is the most widely adopted approach to IT Service Management in the world. First developed in the 1980s by the United Kingdom Government's Central Computer and Telecommunications Agency (CCTA), the ITIL framework was designed to increase the efficiency and cost-effectiveness of IT service management within government organizations.

In the decades since it was created, the ITIL framework has become a globally recognized standard in the IT industry. Thousands of businesses and organizations have implemented ITIL and continue to hire ITIL-certified individuals. Over the years, the ITIL framework has been revised several times, including the notable release of ITIL V3 in 2007 and, more recently, the release of ITIL 4 in 2019.

Today, the ITIL framework is maintained by AXELOS®️, a joint venture company between the Government of the United Kingdom and Capita PLC, an international business process outsourcing firm headquartered in London. AXELOS is responsible for managing the ITIL framework, including the personnel certification program, updates to the ITIL framework, and accrediting third-party providers of ITIL examinations. ITIL certifications are a series of qualifications covering many ITIL service lifecycle areas. IT professionals are required to take a training course and pass the requisite exam before receiving an ITIL certification.

As more and more companies implement IT Governance Frameworks, having an ITIL Foundations certification in the de facto standard framework is obviously a plus. In fact, some companies are making it a prerequisite to have a job in their IT department. So, for many IT professionals, the answer to whether or not ITIL Foundations is worth it is that it absolutely is.

In this blog, we’ll provide a detailed explanation of ITIL Foundations and how it fits into the larger ITIL Framework, who should pursue this certification, what the benefits are, and examine case studies showing how ITIL Foundations has helped in real-world scenarios.

Understanding ITIL Foundations

Information Technology Infrastructure Library, more commonly referred to as ITIL, is the world’s leading best practice framework for implementing IT Service Management. The most notable ITIL certification is ITIL Foundations, an entry-level certification designed for anyone who needs an understanding of IT Service Management to help deliver better value to customers.

With ITIL Foundations, you learn how to effectively reduce your organization's IT costs, better define and formalize operational processes, provide a \"common language\" for both business and IT and improve overall customer satisfaction. ITIL Foundations introduces IT Service Management through the lens of a Service Value System (SVS), which provides a holistic end-to-end view of how to successfully contribute to business value and also how to leverage concepts from models such as Lean IT, Agile, DevOps, and Organizational Change Management.

ITIL Foundations is the key starting point for IT professionals because the course immerses you in the guiding principles, dimensions, and practices of the ITIL framework. It offers learners a general awareness of the key elements, concepts, and terminology used in ITIL and is, therefore, ideal for those who need a basic understanding of ITIL or would like to progress to higher levels within the ITIL 4 certification scheme.

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Who Should Pursue ITIL Foundations

The concepts and skills learned in this course reflect the fast-paced and complex environment in which we live and new ways of working and emerging practices, all of which are essential not only for ITSM professionals but also for a wider range of professionals working in the digital transformation world.

Understanding the ITSM framework can also be useful for service development, customer support, etc., by acting as a stepping stone to advancing their careers. More companies are recognizing the value of the ITIL methodology and are requiring entire teams and departments to become certified in ITIL Foundations. It’s an excellent way to boost productivity, collaboration, and communication, ensuring digital transformation success and continual service improvement.

By completing the ITIL Foundations, you will become proficient in the following areas:

• Service Strategy: Learn how the IT service processes should align and integrate with your organization’s strategy to produce the desired business benefits to the customers.
• Service Design: Learn how to provide input on devising a solution for the service and managing the service through the management information systems. This includes understanding how to describe the technology, processes, and measurements.
• Service Transition: Recognize when services have changed or have become obsolete and must be removed. Learn how to apply change management and risk management to ensure a smooth transition of new and modified services in the ITIL framework.
• Service Operation: Ensure everyday activities, processes, and other infrastructure requirements run properly and deliver the desired value to their customers. Become proficient in the consumerization of services and their guarantee through Service Level Agreements (SLA).
• Continual Service Improvement: Discover the essential metrics for measuring and improving the processes in the ITIL framework.

Overall, as more organizations worldwide adopt the ITIL Framework, ITIL Foundations can enhance your efficiency and familiarize you with ITIL implementation and its guiding principles, empowering you to quickly become productive in an ITIL context.

Advantages of ITIL Foundations

ITIL is a framework of the best practices needed across the Information Technology Service Life Cycle. It has skyrocketed in popularity over the years because it enables an organization to create a flexible and practical approach to digital transformation. Employees benefit from the ITIL Foundations certification because it includes a possible foot in the door to an IT career as well as enhanced job performance through the application of best practices. Employers benefit from having ITIL-certified employees because they can help improve the quality of IT service management.

Let’s examine five of the most significant ITIL Foundation benefits:

Enhanced understanding of ITSM (IT Service Management)

By completing ITIL Foundations, you gain a better understanding of how your organization facilitates IT service delivery, including the management of all resources and IT employees, such as IT administrators, service providers, vendors, and customers. You will familiarize yourself with the guiding principles of ITSM and better understand your organization’s overall vision for its IT services and the format of IT services.

Improved IT services and customer satisfaction

The best way to maximize profit is to ensure that your customers are satisfied and happy with your services. In the digital age, this means having a seamless customer support system in place. Employees who have completed ITIL Foundations are equipped with the knowledge and skills to constantly improve their organization’s IT solutions and, subsequently, ensure customer satisfaction.

ITIL emphasizes the importance of understanding the needs of customers and stakeholders. Therefore, IT professionals who are ITIL certified know to focus on providing IT services designed and delivered in a way that meets their expectations.

Alignment of IT services with business goals

At its core, the ITIL framework is designed to help businesses align IT services with customer and business needs. The rapid digitization of business has only made it more important that enterprise IT functions are capable of communicating and collaborating with the rest of the organization. With ITIL Foundations, employees learn the fundamentals of ITSM so they can create formalized processes for requesting services and reporting IT incidents so it can more effectively add value and serve the needs and goals of the business.

IT professionals with an ITIL Foundations certification are trained to view the business as its customer. They keep their customers satisfied by providing services that are supported by IT assets and capabilities - all of which align with the strategic requirements of the business.

Improved risk management and service delivery

With technology extending into every business function, cybersecurity threats and other risks have never been more prevalent. ITIL Foundations can help you manage the risks and challenges of IT service delivery by using a structured and proactive framework. Certified professionals understand how to assess IT assets along with their value and potential vulnerability as an attack vector so they can ensure they are properly protected and secured.

Companies that hire ITIL-certified IT professionals increase the likelihood they will have a well-developed ITSM practice. With a proper program in place, your organization will improve the delivery of IT services to customers and stakeholders, ensuring that they receive the support they need when they need it.

Increase in job opportunities and career growth for individuals

IT professionals who have ITIL certifications and who commit themselves to learning it and proving it are going to excel in their roles. They're going to move up in those IT departments, especially if they start learning additional information, additional skills, and knowledge within the framework. Many organizations offer higher compensation to IT personnel with an ITIL certification because it demonstrates that the individual has the requisite knowledge and skills to enable the organization's efficient delivery of IT services.

Is ITIL Foundations Worth It?

Individuals and IT professionals considering pursuing the ITIL Foundations course might be hesitant to commit. The fact is, it’s not hard to justify the return on investment (ROI) for an individual or a business considering pursuing ITIL Foundations. ITIL is universally respected and considered the de facto IT certification to demonstrate your expertise in service delivery.

For individuals, the initial expense may be daunting, but by becoming ITIL-certified, you will access new potential for career advancement and enhanced job performance. Furthermore, it demonstrates your position as a well-versed professional familiar with the best practices of the industry. You will find new career prospects, not only in terms of money but employment opportunities across industries and locations.

An ITIL certification should be considered a worthwhile investment in your future livelihood. The exact amount ITIL Foundation experts earn depends on their location, role, and experience level. Professionals with ITIL 4 Foundation and IT service management (ITSM) certifications earn an average salary of $98,212. The top countries where ITIL 4 Foundation certified professionals can earn a competitive salary include the USA, UK, Canada, India, and Australia.

For organizations, having your employees become ITIL-certified ensures greater value creation from IT investments and higher user satisfaction. Businesses that have their team attain ITIL certification can improve their reputation, promoting it to a place amongst such well-regarded organizations as CITI Bank, Bank of America, Microsoft, Boeing, British Telecom, and Walmart. All of these businesses and thousands more around the world have implemented ITIL and continue to hire ITIL-certified individuals.

How to Get Started with ITIL Foundations

• Steps to take to start studying for ITIL Foundations
• Overview of study materials and resources
• Tips for passing the ITIL Foundations exam

If you’re interested in becoming ITIL-certified, ITIL Foundations is the perfect place to start. There are no prerequisites for taking the ITIL Foundation course, which means you can enroll and begin studying today! This course is designed for anyone who needs an understanding of IT service delivery to help deliver better customer value. It is ideal for all IT staff and management, as well as customers who work closely with IT to support business requirements.

If you choose to take the certification course with United Training, we offer the free Introduction to ITIL 4 eBook to help you prepare. We also recommend the following training materials:

• Axelos’ ITIL ebook: Future Proof Your Career with ITIL 4: ITIL 4 Certification Explained
• Axelos’ ITL Job Hunting guide

This course will earn you 14 PDUs and includes a voucher for the exam. After you complete and pass the exam, your ITIL Foundations certification will allow you to progress to higher levels within the ITIL 4 certification scheme.

To help you pass the test, we offer the following tips:

• Practice: Familiarize yourself with the ITIL exam pattern and complete official sample papers and practice questions. Make sure to follow the time constraints when taking a practice test. Test takers often fail simply because they run out of time.
• Pay attention to detail: Exam questions can be tricky. Read each question carefully so you are sure what it is asking you.
• Study, study, study: Passing the ITIL Foundation requires a working understanding of all the basics and each stage of the ITIL lifecycle and capability modules. Study and memorize keywords and ensure you know the definitions of abbreviations, IT jargon, and other special terms.

Conclusion

Learning how to properly implement ITIL best practices will take your team's skills to the next level and improve company performance through business-aligned IT services. With the knowledge and skills obtained in ITIL Foundations, your IT department will very likely reduce costs through better utilization of resources.

Organizations around the world have demonstrated the many benefits of deploying the ITIL approach. As the de facto standard framework for IT Service Management, it’s no wonder more and more companies are making it a requirement for professionals who want to work in their IT department. Completing the ITIL Foundations Certification is a great way for IT workers to advance their careers while helping their organizations lay the groundwork to thrive in the digital age.

If you think you’re ready to take the next (or first) step in your IT career, pursuing ITIL Foundations is an excellent option.